The Dominican House of Studies inaugurated its Thomistic Circles series this past Thursday with an inspiring lecture by Notre Dame philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre. Before a largely young and enthusiastic crowd, Professor MacIntyre shared his thoughts on the perennial value of St. Thomas's thought and its undeniable place in the history of philosophy. Appreciating this value and history is only the beginning, the distinguished philosopher explained, of appropriating the wisdom of Aquinas and bringing his philosophical insights to bear on contemporary questions. Of course, the Dominican Order is uniquely poised to perform this vital work.

Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., a professor of theology at the House of Studies and the coordinator of the Thomistic Circles series, shares his thoughts on the evening's success:

"On the evening of September 24th, the preeminent philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre spoke to the faculty, staff, students, and guests of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception. The topic of his presentation was 'What Should a Dominican Philosophical Education Be Nowadays?" The talk was given in the aula of the new Academic Center at the House of Studies before a packed audience of nearly 200 participants.

"Professor MacIntyre is renowned for his work on morality, virtue ethics, and philosophical history. Among other accomplishments, he has created in contemporary philosophy a more amenable climate to the Thomistic tradition. His many writings include the books: After Virtue, Whose Justice? Which Rationality?, and Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry. His latest book, entitled God, Philosophy, Universities: A Selective History of the Catholic Philosophical Tradition provides an insightful and provocative reflection on the question of what a university should be, and on the contemporary challenges to Catholic philosophy in the present secular environment.

"Speaking to the Dominican community and its guests, Professor MacIntyre stressed the special role of Aquinas in the history of philosophical thought. Aquinas's Aristotelian understanding of man as a rational animal had a particular balance and realism. It took account of man's animality and physical historicity, as well as his rational capacity for truth and virtue, and his spiritual vocation unto God. The balance between these two dimensions was subsequently lost, and modern philosophers have tended to emphasize one element to the detriment of the other. Today, a recovery of the wisdom of Aquinas must consider his thought not only in relation to his forebears (such as Aristotle, Plato and Augustine) but also contemporary interlocutors, such as Hume, Kant, and Nietzsche. It should be shown that his understanding of man can accomodate many of the truths of these latter thinkers, while offering a corrective alternative to their partial and sometimes mistaken views of man. Aquinas's wisdom thus has a deep and important role to play in the ongoing philosophical life of the Church in contemporary society, and in the vocation of the Dominican Order."

For more information on the Thomistic Circles series, click here.